The 4 Most Common Winter Pests in Lake Charles, Louisiana
If you're a homeowner in Louisiana, then you're probably familiar with the pests that come out during the winter. While most of these pests are harmless, some will need extra attention as they can cause dangers to your home. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 most common winter pests in Lake Charles, Louisiana. We'll also provide some tips on how to get rid of them! Winter pests you can expect to read about include:
Cockroaches in Lake Charles
One of the most common winter pests in Louisiana is the notorious cockroach. Cockroaches are attracted to warm, humid environments and will often enter homes through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. Cockroaches can also enter your home while hitching on random bags and luggage. If you see cockroaches in your home, it's important to take action immediately as they can spread diseases and contaminate food. Signs of a cockroach infestation are droppings, foul odors, brown-colored smear marks around moisture-heavy areas, and shed skins. The most common types of cockroaches you can see in Lake Charles include:
- German Cockroach
- American Cockroach
- Brown-Banded Cockroach
- Oriental Cockroach
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Lake Charles
There are many ways you can eliminate cockroaches naturally, but if you have a major infestation, it's best left to the professional exterminators. DIY tips can include:
- Boric Acid: Sprinkle boric wherever you've noticed roach activity and this will break down their nervous and digestive system.
- Essential Oils: At the end of the day, cockroaches don't like clean environments. Look for essential oils such as peppermint, oregano oil, and basil and place them around an infestation.
- Caulk Entry Points: Investigate around your home for possible cracks and crevices and make sure to use caulk and close out all entry points. Look at all weather stripping and gaps around window seals as well.
Rodents in Lake Charles
While mice and rats can be a nuisance, they can also cause serious damage to your home if they aren't dealt with in a timely manner. chewing on wires and insulation, which can lead to fires, and gnawing through pipes, which can cause flooding. Outside of the damage aspect, rodents can cause a lot of health issues which include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Plague
- Salmonellosis
- Tularemia
If you are looking for key signs of rodents, look for chew marks around your furniture, droppings, odd noises around your home, and black smear marks on your baseboards.
How to Get Rid of Rodents in Lake Charles
If you think you have a rodent problem, the best thing to do is call a professional pest control company. They will be able to come in and assess the situation and give you the best course of action. In the meantime, there are some things that you can do to try and prevent rodents from getting into your home which include:
- Keep Your Home Clean: One of the main attractions for rodents is food. If your home is clean and there is no food for them to eat, they will move on. This means keeping all food sealed in air-tight containers. Make sure to keep dog food out of reach as well.
- Seal Entry Points: Cover all cracks and crevices around your foundation, siding, and doorways.
- Use Apple Cider and Water: Spray this solution around the barrier of your home and where you think rodents may be entering
- Remove Vegetation Around Your Home: Cut back on your trees and shrubbery as rodents can nest around your home and use these as easy access points.
Spiders in Lake Charles
Most people are afraid of spiders and for good reason. They can be creepy, crawly, and sometimes even dangerous. Spiders can offer a lot of benefits to our ecosystem as they will feed on insects like roaches, flies, ants, silverfish, and beetles. While most spiders found in Louisiana are not harmful to humans, there are a few that you should be aware of:
- Black Widow
- Brown Recluse
- Brown Widow
- Black-Footed Yellow Sac
Signs of a spider infestation may include webs around your home, strange bite marks on your body, and other insects around your home in groups.
How to Get Rid of Spiders in Lake Charles
There are a few things you can do to limit a spider infestation, and these include:
- Reducing Moisture: Clean your gutters and check your home for high moisture spots to eliminate water sources.
- Remove Spider Webs: Clean up any webs around your home as this can eliminate eggs.
- Seal Entry Points: Make sure there are no holes in wood, space around pipes, or gaps around door and window frames.
Silverfish in Lake Charles
Silverfish are common pests that can be found in Lake Charles homes. These pests are nocturnal and hide in dark, damp areas during the day. They feed on paper products, which is why they are often found in books and bookcases. Silverfish can also damage clothing and other fabrics. Silverfish do not bite humans and don't carry any dangerous diseases, but you definitely do not want to see these pests roaming around your walls.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish in Lake Charles
There are a few things you can do to limit silverfish infestations, and these include:
- Eliminate Moisture: Silverfish require high levels of moisture to survive so eliminating moisture sources is key. This can be done by repairing leaks, using a dehumidifier, or ventilating damp areas.
- Remove Food Sources: Store food in airtight containers and keep food preparation areas clean. Vacuum regularly to remove crumbs and other small bits of food that silverfish may eat.
- Use Cedar Oil: Silverfish are repelled to the pheromones in cedar, so you can create a solution to spray around your home.
Professional Pest Control
If you are dealing with any of these pests during the Wintertime, you may be in need of professional services. DIY solutions can work, but if your infestation is too far gone, contact the local experts servicing Lake Charles, LA. Extermatrim has been helping out the community for over 20 years and has what it takes to provide expert pest control to your area.
